I remember when I was a kid I always sought approval.

I would do things and say things that I thought others would like. It was just my strategy to make friends."Be the person who will do ANYTHING to get people to like you." - I'd keep telling myself. (btw did some dumb shit just to get the attention of others)

And when it came to girls? I would be whoever I thought they'd want me to be. I didn't really have much of a character. And I wasn't being authentic to what little character I did have. The problem was it was exhausting!

It also didn't work. People were happy to laugh at what I did as entertainment, but it was nothing more than that. And the girls I liked? Well, they didn't respect the fact that I had no character. It's funny because the more you try to change yourself to get approval, the less of it you get.

This mindset change alone made the difference. I realized I didn't HAVE to get EVERYONE's approval. And when I was talking to a girl I liked I didn't change myself. I was authentic. I know the age all advice of "Just be yourself" is over used, but the idea behind it is be yourself unapologetically and authentic, don't jump through hoops to please others.

Did that push people away? 100%! But it was people who I didn't have to be compatible with. Now I was filtering for people who would fit into my way of life.

When you try to please everyone you please no one. So now that I was filtering, I was clicking much better with the handful of people that I was meant to click with and everyone outside of that circle? I don't have to get their approval.

Hope this helps.